Lab

Inkjets & all-in-ones

Inkjet printing has been around, in one form or other, for over 20 years - and it's still going strong. Today's inkjets offer print speeds and image quality beyond our wildest dreams back then, and do so at prices as low as a staggering £22. This is why they remain a better choice for the home than lasers - in general, at least. To start with, they're much cheaper to buy than lasers, especially if you want colour output. So even though ink costs may be higher, light print users can pay less overall by choosing an inkjet rather than a laser.

Inkjets are also compact: there are very few black-and-white lasers that can fit into the space of a full-colour inkjet. And when it comes to colour quality, inkjets rule the roost. They can mix dyes together for a limitless colour palette, which lasers must simulate with dithering. And they can print directly onto glossy photo paper, making inkjet technology the obvious choice if you've any sort of interest in digital photography.

Over the coming pages, we look at 18 inkjet devices to help you choose your next printer. Six of them are standalone printers, ranging from no-frills units costing under £30 right up to semi-professional photo printers and small office devices.

But, given their surging popularity, a bigger focus this month is the all-in-one devices. These add a scanner to the printer, creating a multifunction device that will print, scan and photocopy at the touch of a button - and several models can send and receive faxes too. These devices are more affordable than ever, with this month's selection starting at just £39. So if you're buying a new inkjet, it makes sense to consider one of these versatile, space-saving units.

Whatever your requirements, however, you'll find a high-quality device on the coming pages to suit both your needs and your budget.